Epilogue
Elizabeth
“Can you believe we made it?” I ask Donovan, nudging his side.
He’s fussing with his robes and graduation cap, his curls making it fall lopsided anytime he moves.
“To graduation? No way.”
“Here, let me,” I say, taking over adjusting his cap and using one of my spare pins to keep it in place—curly hair problems and all that.
“Thanks,” he says, “we really did it, Beth.”
“Yeah we did.”
“I just wish I knew what was next for me,” he says, his gaze lowering to the floor.
Ever since he’s been home, he’s been like a ghost of his former self. I was without Angel for a week, and I barely coped, I don’t know how Donovan is still getting up every day.
“The future will sort itself out,” I say, “for now, all we need to worry about is not face-planting on the stage when we get our diplomas, then surviving a club BBQ with both Sofía and Miguel in tow. ”
“Oh my god,” he groans, “please don’t, I swear I’ve had anxiety dreams about both of those things.”
“What, you don’t think Miguel and Walrus are gonna become best buds? He might invite Walrus to join him for a round of golf.”
“Christ, can you imagine?” He smiles and shakes his head.
I know it didn’t fix anything, but at least I’ve made him smile, which is something.
“Come on, they’re calling us to our seats.”
I link my arm with his as we make our way over, before giving him a kiss on the cheek as we separate to find our places.
“Elizabeth Reilly.”
The President of the university calls my name and an usher directs me to the stairs.
When I walk across the stage I’m met with the second loudest set of cheers we’ve heard all day—the loudest being for Donovan.
I guess we’re the only people that have a motorcycle club rooting for them in the audience.
I look out over the sea of people and my eyes instantly connect with Angel, the look on his face full of pride and genuine happiness.
Even from here I can also see the tears in Sofía’s eyes as she claps along with Miguel; while Tank, Pretty Boy, and Slim, all holler and stamp their feet.
I give them a wave as I collect my diploma and make my way off the stage; my cheeks sore from smiling so much.
I’d always imagined going through this alone, with no one here to witness my achievement. Instead, I’ve got both a real family and a found family, all of whom would be willing to do anything to help me, and what’s even better is that I trust them enough to let them.
Angel finally convinced me to quit my job at the diner, which I did, on the condition that my position was given to Senor Perez.
Brian wasn’t thrilled at the idea, but when Angel and I visited a few nights ago it all seemed to be going well.
I won’t lie and say I miss it, because I don’t, but I’m grateful for my time there.
It helped me survive, and my wages made a dent in my parent’s medical bills.
I’ll be able to continue paying them off with the money I’ll earn as a TA while I study for my master’s and get my teaching qualifications.
I loved studying literature and creative writing, but I know now that what I really want to do is teach.
Agreeing to let Angel support me financially while I do wasn’t an easy decision, but what can I say, he’s stubborn.
As the ceremony comes to a close, I rush to greet them all, running into Angel’s arms… yeah, I’m that girl now.
“I’m so proud of you,” he murmurs against my neck as we wrap ourselves around each other.
“Thanks,” I say, giving him a chaste kiss on the lips, still wary about showing too much intimacy in front of his mom and Miguel.
“Congratulations, mija,” Sofía says, after she’s finished hugging Donovan.
“Thank you,” I say, and I grin as she pulls me into one of her mom hugs.
It takes Donovan and I some time to hug everyone, not only the guys from the club but our college friends as well, before I manage to escape and return to Angel.
“Take me home, please?” I ask, reaching my arms around his neck and standing on tiptoes to kiss him properly.
“Anything for you, princess. ”
Diablo
I’m sitting on the sofa in our new apartment, waiting for Elizabeth to finish getting ready. She’s done an amazing job on this place; it’s a converted loft, and she’s kept the distressed brick walls and painted the others slate gray to match my old room at the clubhouse.
I told her she could paint it any color she wanted; as I promised, she has free rein when it comes to our place.
But she told me the gray had grown on her, and also something about the colors in Guadalupe Mendoza’s painting popping out against it.
The painting has pride of place on the main wall, so everyone can see it when they come in, and we can see it whenever we’re chilling in our living room.
“Okay, I’m ready,” she says, walking out of our bedroom.
I can’t help but smile; she gets more beautiful every time I look at her.
She’s wearing skintight black jeans with her Dr Marten’s and a green tank top which shows off her gorgeous skin and red curls.
Her hair cascades down her back, just the way I love it, and all of her curves are on display. My cock twitches at the sight of her.
“Hold on,” I say, standing and moving towards her. “I forgot something.”
“What?” she asks, as I step up behind her and lift her into my arms, carrying her back into the bedroom. “Angel!” she screams, “What are you doing?”
“You look too good, princess.”
I place her down on the bed before lying on top of her, caging her in with my arms .
“You just told me we’d be late for the BBQ,” she says, placing her hands on my chest, playing with the dog-tag that I let hang outside of my shirt, not needing to hide it anymore.
“I promise I’ll be quick.”
“We literally just fucked in the shower when we got home after the graduation ceremony.”
“So?”
She chuckles. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Using big words just makes you sound sexier, it isn’t deterring me.”
“Angel—”
She starts to argue but stops as soon as I lower my body to hers, resting between her thighs. Feeling how hard I am she bucks her hips up into me.
“So fucking perfect,” I murmur between the kisses I’m lavishing across her throat and shoulders, taking my time to kiss every inch of her exposed skin.
“It doesn’t feel like you’re moving very fast there, you said you’d be quick.”
“Don’t rush me, princess, it won’t make me go any faster. I don’t give a shit if we’re late.”
“You should!” She hits me gently on the shoulder. “This is important for Donovan too; it’s our graduation celebration.”
I groan, hating that she’s using logic. “Fine, I’ll be quick.”
Reaching for the button on her jeans, I undo them and slide them down her legs, leaving her in lace panties and her tank top.
“Are these for me?” I ask, running my fingers over the lace, licking my lips at the sight of her in them.
“You know they are, although they were supposed to be for later. ”
“I’ll enjoy them later too, don’t worry,” I smirk, before lowering my head to the lace and inhaling deeply.
“Hey! There’ll be time for that later. We just agreed to the quick version of this.”
“Trying to ruin my fun…” I grumble, making her giggle. “But fine, you want me to be quick, I’ll be quick.”
She cries out in shock when I rip the lace panties at the crotch. “What the fuck did you do that for?”
I free myself from my jeans and thrust into her in one swift movement.
“Just saving time, princess.”
“You ruined them!”
“I’ll buy you more,” I say, thrusting into her again.
Her legs wrap around my waist as she pulls me into her, moving her hips to meet mine.
“Fuck, Angel,” she moans.
“Tell me what you need.”
“I need you to fuck me.”
“You want me to be rough?” I ask. She whimpers in response, and I thrust into her even harder before pulling out completely. “On your hands and knees.”
She doesn’t even hesitate to follow my demand, and I’m soon faced with her round ass raised in front of me, her pussy beautifully pink and ready. I thrust into her again, gripping at the crease between her hips and her thighs.
“Look at you taking my cock so well.”
She moans at my words and reaches her hand beneath her to play with herself.
“You gonna make yourself come on my cock?”
Another moan escapes her as she clenches around me, she’s getting close, those orgasms I gave her in the shower had her ready for me .
“You feel so fucking good, princess. So perfect, and you’re all fucking mine.”
She comes and when she clenches around me it triggers my own orgasm. I spill into her with a few final thrusts, before pulling her back into me and kneeling with her against my chest.
“I love you, Elizabeth,” I whisper against her shoulder.
“I love you too.”
We arrive at the clubhouse just in time for everything to kick off.
I park my bike in its usual spot, and we’re met with cheers from Tank and Pretty Boy who are crowding around the BBQ, always prioritizing food.
Alejandro’s been boasting for the last couple of weeks about his grill master skills, so everyone’s ready to put the food to the test.
He’s blended into the club smoothly, better than we all expected; and he’s great with bikes and seems happy working with us in the garage. It’s clear that he loves how much more relaxed everything is without the constant threat of arrest or attack.
“Everything smells amazing, Alejandro,” Elizabeth says as we wander over.
“Hey, back off,” Tank says, holding onto his plate as though it’s made of gold. “I’ve been waiting since this morning, I’m first.”
“Don’t worry,” Alejandro says, “there’s plenty for everyone. I’m half-Italian, if there’s one thing I know how to do well, it’s feed people.”
“Lucky for us,” Pretty Boy says, patting his stomach .
Elizabeth shakes her head. “I don’t know where you both put it all.”
“Bottomless pits, the pair of them,” I chuckle, “come on, let’s go and say hi to everyone else.”